KS Equine Bodywork

08/01/2025

Superior, WI and surrounding areas🚨
I have a few last minute noon/afternoon slots open today, 8/1. Shoot me a text if you want to be tacked on to the schedule! 218-428-0228

07/30/2025

Located in Sunset, Texas off of Hwy 287, just north of Decatur. Double X Vets is your one stop shop for all your animals’ needs. From performance equine, and farm animal health, to all small animal surgery, reproduction, including canine transcervical insemination. Double X is a truly unique veter...

07/29/2025

𝐅𝐚𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐚 & 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬: 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐏𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝… 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲? 𝐀𝐛𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲.

When we talk about fascia in horses, most people picture a web of tissue wrapping around muscles, tendons, and organs. And that’s accurate—but here’s the surprising part: fascia isn’t physically connected to joints.

Joints are made up of bone, cartilage, synovial fluid, ligaments, and a joint capsule. Fascia doesn’t attach directly to these structures the way a tendon attaches muscle to bone. Instead, it surrounds and interconnects the muscles, tendons, and ligaments that move and stabilize those joints.

𝐒𝐨, 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐚 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝?
• Movement Translation: When fascia is restricted or dehydrated, it changes how the surrounding muscles and tendons move. That altered motion affects how force is transferred through the joint.
• Stability Influence: Fascial tension can pull on muscle groups, changing joint alignment and load—even without direct contact.
• Communication Pathways: Fascia is rich in nerve endings and proprioceptors, meaning it helps the horse “feel” where its body is in space. Dysfunction in fascia can create protective patterns around joints, even if the joint itself isn’t injured.

Think of fascia like the rigging on a sailboat—it doesn’t touch the rudder directly, but it can absolutely influence how the rudder moves.

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞?
- A horse with tight fascia may show signs of joint discomfort or stiffness even if the joint itself is healthy.
- Addressing fascial health can improve performance, flexibility, and joint longevity.

- Tight or restricted fascia? ➝ Changes how muscles fire ➝ Changes how joints move ➝ Hello stiffness, compensations, and sometimes even pain.

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞’𝐬 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. 𝐅𝐚𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐚 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐚 𝐤𝐞𝐲 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞—𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦.

07/25/2025

Christy Steed Clinic this weekend! We have two spots left. It will be a hot weekend. We will provide water and Gatorade. Lunch provided by Assurance Feed.

Let’s have a fun weekend!

07/22/2025

🚨 🚨 🚨

𝐓𝐌𝐉 𝐈𝐧𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐡𝐲

The 𝗧𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗯𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁 (TMJ) is the hinge between the jaw and skull. And yes, it can absolutely affect performance.

This joint does a lot more than chew. If it’s inflamed, restricted, or sore, you might see:
- Head tossing, bracing, or resisting the bit
- Inconsistent frame or contact
- Resistance to turning, bending, or backing
- Sensitivity while bridling or ear-shyness
- Even vague lameness, often mistaken for something else

Some horses overflex behind the vertical to avoid jaw discomfort. Others just feel “off” in a way you can’t quite explain. If they’ve already had their teeth done and it’s not a saddle fit issue, don’t forget to check the jaw.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀:
TMJ injections use a small amount of anti-inflammatory medication to relieve pressure and restore comfort. For the right horse, the change can be dramatic: better flexion, softer poll, easier turns, and more consistent connection.

But we don’t inject blindly. We rule out dental issues, poll pain, and neck stiffness first. If your horse constantly braces, grinds their teeth, or acts touchy around the face, it’s worth asking your vet.

𝐃𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐗 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐞
xxvets.com ◦ (940) 514-9500

07/08/2025

Mobility patterns
Does your horse have a regular pattern of being “out” in the hip and having an “off” shoulder? Maybe even bracey in the face and a little inflammation in his lumbar spine?
Let’s talk about it at our next appointment. My mind has been B L O W N and so many dots are being connected. Just like your horse 😉

218-428-0228

06/30/2025

Congratulations to all involved on another great show! 🥂🥂